"I felt as if I was begging to live, for somebody who had her life taken from her, her childhood taken from her, her whole life in fact because I am still suffering because of it all."

She was accompanied to the meeting by other abuse survivors and SDLP Assembly member Nichola Mallon, who said the PIP process had re-traumatised many victims.

"This is a group in our society that is very vulnerable, who have been spectacularly failed by the state and suffered horrific abuse.

"They need to be treated with greater compassion, decency and fairness and for many of them when it comes to the welfare system they are not, and that needs to change."

She added: "We felt it was a positive meeting, we felt that the department (for Communities) listened, but the proof will be in what the department actually does and the measures it puts in place to better support this group of people."

A public inquiry led by retired judge Sir Anthony Hart recommended a care package be established for survivors.

His recommendations have not been acted upon because of the collapse of power-sharing.

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